Alstroemeria plant named ‘Lucy’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Lucy’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit; large pink and yellow-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LUCY’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, grown typically as a potted garden Alstroemeria, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Lucy’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Chichester, England. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact potted garden Alstroemeria cultivars that have attractive foliage and flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Chichester, England in June, 2004, of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number T38, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 1205/35, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Chichester, England in May, 2006.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by tissue culture in a controlled greenhouse environment in Chichester, England since October, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Lucy’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Lucy’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit.     -   4. Large pink and yellow-colored flowers.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are more compact than plants         of female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of female parent selection have         pale pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are more compact than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have pale yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Natalie’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,801. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Chichester, England, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of ‘Natalie’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were shorter than plants of         ‘Natalie’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had smaller flowers than         plants of ‘Natalie’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Natalie’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Natalie’ had white and red-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Lucy’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Lucy’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the summer in 21-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Chichester, England and under typical Alstroemeria production conditions. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 20° C. and night temperatures averaged 14° C. Plants were six months old when the photographs and description were taken. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Lucy’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code number T38, not             patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria             hybrida identified as code number 1205/35, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By tissue culture.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness; fleshy; color, close             to 155D.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizome description.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About             6 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Close to             153A. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant habit.—Compact and mounded; freely branching, bushy             appearance; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 13 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 28 cm. -   Stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Internode length.—About 0.3 cm to 2.5 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 145C and 146A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncles in a single             whorl; sessile.         -   Length, lower leaves.—About 7 cm.         -   Length, upper leaves.—About 4 cm.         -   Width, lower leaves.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Width, upper leaves.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A to             137B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to N138B.             Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A to 139C;             venation, close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 138B; venation, close to 139B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly;             freely flowering habit; about five to eleven flowers per             inflorescence; about 125 flowers develop per plant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about 6 to             14 weeks after planting; in the garden, flowering is             continuous from the late spring until frost in The             Netherlands.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two to three weeks on             the plant; about one to two weeks as a cut flower; flowers             not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 1.9 cm.             Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 141B to 144C.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.1 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.4 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.6 cm. Length, median segment:             About 4.1 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.7 cm. Size,             outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 4.5 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 3 cm. Length, median segment:             About 4.5 cm. Width, median segment: About 3 cm. Shape,             inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Lanceolate.             Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Obovate.             Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median segments: Acute.             Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median segments: Embedded             point. Base, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Attenuate. Base, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Cuneate. Margin, inner perianth, lateral and             median segments: Entire. Margin, outer perianth, lateral and             median segments: Slightly crenate. Texture, inner and outer             perianths, lateral and median segments: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, inner perianth: When opening, lateral segments, upper             surface: Close to 11A, towards the apex, close to 62A;             stripes, close to 183A. When opening, median segment, upper             surface: Close to 11A; towards the apex, close to 63B;             stripes, close to 183A. When opening, lateral segments,             lower surface: Close to 14C; towards the apex, close to 62C;             stripes, close to 177A. When opening, median segment, lower             surface: Close to 63A to 63D; stripes, close to 177A. Fully             opened, lateral segments, upper surface: Close to 9B;             towards the apex, close to 64D; stripes, close to N186C.             Fully opened, median segment, upper surface: Close to 8D;             towards the apex, close to 62B; stripes, close to N186C.             Fully opened, lateral segments, lower surface: Close to 9C;             towards the apex, close to 63A; stripes, close to 177C.             Fully opened, median segment, lower surface: Close to 8D;             stripes, close to 177C. Color, outer perianth: When opening,             lateral and median segments, upper surface: Close to 68A.             When opening, lateral and median segments, lower surface:             Close to 73B. Fully opened, lateral and median segments,             upper surface: Close to 68B; center, close to 67C; with             development color becoming closer to 73B. Fully opened,             lateral and median segments, lower surface: Close to 68B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Strong. Angle: About 15° to 20° from vertical.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Three to             eight. Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: About 4 mm by 7 mm.             Anther color: Close to 67C. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen             color: Close to 146C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.             Pistil length: About 3 cm. Style length: About 2.5 cm. Style             color: Close to 70C. Stigma color: Close to 177B. Ovary             color: Close to 143A.         -   Fruits.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm. Color:             Close to 143A.         -   Seeds.—Seed development has not been observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 25° C. 

1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Lucy’ as illustrated and described. 